ABSTRACT
Consuming an adequate amount of iodine during pregnancy is critical for fetal neurologic development.Even a mild deficiency can impair cognitive ability.The World Health Organization recently has increased their recommended iodine intake during pregnancy from 200 to 250 μg/d and suggested that a median urinary iodine concentration of 150 ～ 249 μg/L indicates adequate iodine intake in pregnant women.Whether mild-to-moderate maternal iodine deficiency produces more subtle changes in cognitive function in offspring is unclear;no controlled intervention studies have measured long-term clinical outcomes.This review summarizes the iodine nutrition of pregnant women,and the effects of iodine deficiency in pregnancy on neurodevelopment in the child.To prevent fetal damage,iodine should be given before or early in pregnancy.